NCERT and the Delhi Crime Branch seized 32,000 pirated NCERT textbooks in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The raid occurred at a printing facility in Village Jawli, Loni. This operation targeted large-scale unauthorized printing of educational materials.
During the raid, officials confiscated 32,000 fake textbooks covering various subjects and classes. Two printing machines, aluminium printing plates, paper rolls, and printing ink were also seized. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) confirmed the evidence pointed to extensive illegal operations.
Officials from NCERT’s Publication Division provided technical assistance. They identified and verified the pirated material during the seizure proceedings. The Delhi Crime Branch conducted the raid based on specific intelligence gathered from previous cases.
Crackdown on Piracy
The seizure forms part of an ongoing effort against textbook piracy. NCERT has consistently warned that unauthorized printing, distribution, or sale of its textbooks is a punishable offense under law.
In November , CBSE issued an advisory to all affiliated schools. The advisory directed schools to purchase only genuine textbooks. It also shared a list of authorized sources for original NCERT books.
Rising Piracy Cases
Data indicates a significant increase in piracy activity. Up to December 2025 , authorities filed 51 police cases related to the publication and distribution of fake textbooks. These books copied NCERT content. The number of pirated copies seized has increased by 890% over the past five years.
Key Seizure Locations and FIRs
Specific regions have seen high volumes of pirated book seizures. Shahdra, Delhi, accounted for the highest number, with 1.96 lakh pirated books found. Muzaffarnagar recorded 1.33 lakh fake books. Loni and Hapur in Uttar Pradesh also yielded substantial seizures.
Regarding First Information Reports (FIRs), some states have reported more cases than others between 2023 and 2025:
| Region | Number of FIRs |
|---|---|
| Haryana | 19 |
| Delhi-NCR | 7 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 5 |
Action for Schools and Students
Schools, students, and parents must exercise caution when purchasing textbooks. Always verify the authenticity of NCERT books. Purchase only from authorized vendors and sources to avoid supporting illegal printing operations.